day out in London with 4 week old, how will i manage?????????????

[moocowme]

I have to go to London on my own with DS in the next week to renew a passport. this going to take from about 9-3ish (going by train about 35min trip) so he will need to be fed and changed while out. the embassy does not even provide toilets for visitors so.......

how will i manage? what if he wants a feed on the way over? we have been doing a combined breast/bottle feed most of the time at home so i can do either one with him. i just don't want to be stuck in the city with a cold crying baby having to change and feed in the local park. how do i find out if their is somewhere i can do these things in the city? we will be near fleet street.

aaagggghhhhh!!!!! totally stressing on this but we absolutely must go and i don't have any one who can come with me.

Not sure about what to do at the embassy (I'd have thought there'd have been chairs even if no loos) but I'm sure there are lots of coffee shops around fleet street - I usually take lo into the nearest starbucks/costa/cafe nero/? and give a bottle in there. Hope it goes ok

oh god dont feed a baby in the toilets or freezing cold park

you are quite within your rights to go to a cafe and do it
here in scotland it is against the law to ask a bf mother to stop or to leave the cafe, dont know about england though

i used to go to waterstones cafes - at least they have books/papers/magazines and nice hot chocolate. and they are peaceful and usually full of nice students who help you with buggy or whatever

good luck and enjoy your day.

if you decide to take a bottle, dont be afraid to ask the waitress to warm the milk for you. they are not always allowed to use the microwave for customers own food (although you prob dont use microwave for the bottle) but ask them for a jug of hot water and you can heat up the bottle of milk that way

debenhams restaurants are quite good too - they have disposible bibs etc etc and the staff will get you a jug of hot water

tell them what its for so they bring a decent size jug!

Fleet street has tons and tons of coffee shops . Most of the chains are there, as well as McD's - I'm sure this wouldn't be your first choice of eatery, but at least it has a change area.

I work in that neck of the woods, and hate the tube, so let me know if you need any advice on buses (so much easier if you have a buggy).

Find places like mothercare - and most shopping centres have changing facilities =- as for feeding, use a 'nice' looking cafe.

no mothercare in the city - but you can hop on a 15 bus towards Oxford Street and you'll be in department store heaven, with lots of choices for feeding rooms.

i have to get from Kings Cross station to Fleet street not sure i want to venture over to oxford street as its a bit of a way with a small baby!!. I was thinking of taking him in a sling as i thought it might be easier. do starbucks have loos and baby change tables?

45/63 bus will take you from king's cross to the junction of ludgate circus and fleet street. Not sure whether starbucks have changing areas as i don't like their coffee but caffe nero normally do, and they have a branch on shoe lane, just off fleet street

breastfeed with shawl or scarf type place. dont even think about trying to go through teh hassle of bottle feeding.
you can breastfeed anywhere you find a comfaortable seat, chair sofa etc. however do be willing to buy a coffee/tea/drink etc of course.
re changing, you'd be surprised at how helpful people are to women with newborns. take changing mat, wipes, lots of extra nappies, clothes, and a willingness to change on any flat surface.

i took a six week old to disneyland. he was changed on every and any flat surface i could fine, including flat stones, six inch wide bences etc. he was breastfed on the train, in buses, on benches, (was warm) and at the end of the evening, perched on a railing, until someone realsied what i was doing and offered me there seat on a bench. this was during the fireworks at the end, so very very considerate of them.

newborns are very very very easy to travel with. much easier than toddlers, teens, preteens, dh's etc.

you can do a quick and discreet nappy change behind any sort of obstruciton, doorway etc.
i wouldnt bother trying to go find a specific nappy change facility as the hassle of finding one, may be completely offset by the actual facilities offered

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change nappy on your knee. its easier than you think. i bet there are some broody women who will cluck round and hold the wipes for you.

a sling is a good idea - as long as you are not going to go shopping and try on jeans (i tried that one with baby in a sling - fell out the changing room like an upturned turtle with dd2 fast asleep in the sling)

i am just hoping that kings cross station also has changing facilities should we need them.

i am also hoping that i can get a seat on the train on the way down as we will need to leave before 9am and it could be a bit crowded.

moocow, youre not actually listening to the advice being given.
dont waste your time worrying about finding changing facilities, feeding facilities etc. just DO IT. neborns can be changed on laps. on train seats, on any flat surface whatsoever. breastfeeding is incredibly discreet if you want it to be. most people are willing to help out if you ask them to.

Nobody bats an eyelid at afeeding mum in London. Honestly.

Kings Cross station has changing facilities - they have a waiting room nearish the front of the station that I think has baby changing. It's not in the women's toilets, which are down some stairs on platform 8.

Which station are you coming from? I travel on that line in the morning and if you choose a slow train, it will probably be all right.

hi moocowme, i had to go to the Australian embassy and wait 2 hours to get ds' passport. i breastfed him in the embassy and changed his nappy on the floor since they didn't have any facilities. no one batted an eyelid. i also made friends with the nice security guard who said i could keep my place in the queue while i nipped over to Pret for a sandwich and juice. It will be easier than you think. I know getting out is still a shock at 4 weeks, maybe if you sling bubs, he will be content and may sleep a lot of it.
good luck.

It's daunting though isn't it! I remember feeling really panicky when I had to leave the house with my newborn. Now I'm lucky if I remember nappies and some water!

I think it's fair enough to view the changing stations as save havens. But please don't worry. If baby gets a bit fed up, plonk yourself in the nearest lovely warm cafe (NOT a freezing cold park bench) and feed him!

If you can't find anywhere to change and the cafe has no loo or changing station (not unusual in the city tbh) nip into a McDonalds or even a nice looking hotel. Brazenly head for the guest loos - they are always warm and nice. Say you are meeting friends in the bar for a drink if anyone challenges you...

And good luck - I remember the stress

Can't you change him on the train before you get off ? If it is Intercity maybe reserve a seat or just get there early and elbow your way on. take a sling/carrier rather than a pushchair. You may have to pay to go into the loos at Kings Cross station. Fleet Street will have loads of coffee shops, Starbucks, Mc D's etc, where you can pit stop and feed him. Honestly London is not that hostile to lo's.

pp ditto, took my ds to EuroDisney aged 7 weeks - fed him on a bench as the parades went past, no one was interested in me and it was unseasonably warm for Nov -Tshirt weather.

Good luck, your Lo won't notice where his nappy is being changed.

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its the australian embassy. john howard is going to hear about this no loos business when you have to wait for ages - especially with a baby!!!

PLEASE read the thread
lots of great advice
and again dont go to the park to feed baby or the toilets
i agree hotels are good places - the bar or lounge will give you a coffee and you can feed and change there

no one bats an eyelid i agree